Winterizing Houseboat Part 3

Another important part of winterizing your houseboat is to drain all the inside water lines and the water holding tank. After the lines are clear of water you will need to pour environmentally safe anitfreeze into the water holding tank and turn on all the faucets and run them until the antifreeze starts to flow out the faucet then shut it off. The amount of anifreeze you will need will depend on the number of bathrooms, sinks, and other water sources. Be sure to do the toilet(s) too. It is critically important this is done because if there is any water left in the lines or faucets it will freeze and the ice will expand destroying the lines and faucets. Also make sure you pump out the septic holding tank and add a gallon of environmentally safe antifreeze to the tank. Make sure that the water heater( if available) is also drained of all water.
We like to go through the entire boat and unplug all electrical appliances and any chords we might be using. We also like to cover all the furniture with old bed sheets to ward off dust and any possible moisture.
Now we will return to the engine compartment and remove all the batteries and bring them home and connect them to an automatic battery charger, rotating periodically. Be sure not to put the batteries on concrete it will drain them faster, so put them an a piece of wood or on a shelf.
To finish we will power wash the bottom of the boat removing any scum that has developed and any zebra mussels that might be attached to the hull and the motors. Some boat owners like to tarp the entire boat to keep the snow off or you can call a boat service dealer in your area and ask them to shrink wrap your boat. In the La Crosse,WI area American Marine offers this service for on average $4.00 a foot in length. Check with your local dealer for prices in your area.Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we explore more cruise stops, events and provide more information.

Winterizing Houseboats Part 2

Now that the boat is out of the water there are a few things you are going to need to do to prepare your boat for a long winter's nap here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. We have twin Mercury Marine I/O sterndrives powered by twin Ford 302 engines. You will need to pick up a few supplies. You are going to need oil filter(s), , be sure to check you manufacturer's manual for the exact size you need, oil filter wrench, water/fuel separator(s)(if your boat engine(s) is equipped with one, 5 quarts per engine of proper marine engine oil( Quicksilver 4-cycle 25W-40 Marine Engine Oil), oil changing pump, container for used oil, proper gear lube for the sterndrive(s), lube pump, grease gun equipped with marine grease, environmentally friendly water line antifreeze(pink in color), marine fuel stabilizer, motor flushing attachment, and fogging oil.
When we winterize our houseboat we start with the fuel system first by changing the water/fuel separators, filling the fuel tank full and adding the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer. The fuel stabilizer prevents the fuel from breaking down over the winter months. We hookup the motor flushing attachment(always remove the propeller first to avoid injury) and run the engines to circulate the stabilizer through the fuel lines and we will spray fogging oil into the carburetors or directly into the cylinder walls to lubricate and prevent internal corrosion.
Next we change the gear lube in the sterndrives while the engine is warm is helps the flow of the old gear lube for removal. Check your owner's manual to find the drain plug and vent for this procedure and for the proper type of gear lube as there is regular and high performance lubes.
After draining the lube you use your lube pump to refill the lower units pushing the lube up from bottom to top. This is a good time to look at the old gear lube to see if there are any metal shavings or if it's a dark brown color these will indicate a possible problem and you should seek the advice of a professional marine mechanic.
Next we change the oil and oil filters in the engine(s) to keep the interior of the engine properly lubricated. Best advice is to purchase an oil pump from your local marine supply store and pump out the oil into a container to be disposed of. The oil gets pumped out through the dipstick holder, it has a narrow tube that extends all the way into the oil pan. We use Quicksilver 25W-40 Marine Engine Oil(5 quarts).
Next we use the grease gun and lubricate all the grease fittings around the tilt mechanisms and the steering mechanisms.
Next we remove all the engine plugs on the manifold and engine block to drain any or all the water that is trapped in the coolant system. Check your owner's manual for their locations. This is very crucial so ice will not form inside the engine and crack something. We even remove a hose and dump in water line antifreeze to make sure all the water has been removed and it any stayed inside it won't freeze completely.
This is a great time to check over all the belts and hoses and remove the batteries and keep them charged over the winter months.
This is how we take care of our engines on our houseboat so stay with us for Part 3 and we will give advice on the interior and the rest of the exterior of our houseboat.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we explore more cruise stops and events and provide more information.

Winterizing Houseboats Part 1

Here in the Upper Missippi River Valley houseboaters and other boaters are starting to get ready for the long winter season. Everyone is making plans to have their boats pulled from the water and winterized for storage. Here in La Crosse,WI if you travel to Pettibone Boat Club you will see the harbormaster and his crew pulling out the different boats. They don't use a boat lift, if you have a trailer made for your houseboat they use their own methods for getting boats out of the water. The boats that don't have trailers will have Del's Auto(608-783-4880) assist in pulling out some of the boats in the area and set them on blocks. Here you see how the harbormaster organizes the boats. At Skipperliner Inc., you will see a large boat lift used to pull the boats from the water and set on blocks on land or placed in a storage building. All up and down the Upper Mississippi River Valley you can visit the marinas and watch all the harbormasters hard at work.
Winterizing your boat is a very crucial and important part of boating. This insures that through the cold winter months the boats and motors won't crack or get damaged.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we provide more information and explore more cruise stops.

Fall Cruise in Mississippi River Valley

Houseboating Excursions took a late fall cruise to show how beautiful the Upper Mississippi River Valley is in the fall and not just a summertime pleasure. The temperatures are cooler but the colors are beautiful. It is a quieter time of year in late October with less boat traffic but the Mississippi River Valley never disappoints. You always see someone out there getting in the last few rides before the temperatures dip below freezing and the Mississippi River freezes over. This is also the time of year that if you cruise to the north toward Alma, WI and as far south as Brownsville,MN you can start to see the first few Tundra Swans gathering to get ready to head south for the winter. The fishing is also considered to be at it's best this time of year.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we explore more cruise stops and provide more information.

Annual Chili Cook-OFF

Every year the La Crosse,WI business community sponsors a Chili Cook-OFF contest with all the proceeds going to help the programs D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T. and Habitat For Humanity. Each business had it's own version of chili to sample and Houseboating Excursions was there to sample them all. You get about a 1/4 cup serving from each contestant and you also get a ballot to cast your vote for the one you like most. Some of the sponsors were Citizens State Bank, they had a Halloween Witch's Brew, Centurylink, had some sweet chili, the radio station 95.7 The Rock, had the celebrity deadpool chili, Dahl Ford, had great chili and a glass of beer to quench the thirst, Marcus Theaters, good chili, the radio station 94.7 Classic Rock, aired the event, a couple of sponsors were kind enough to share some of their recipes with us; Schilling Supply Company's Recipe: Garbage Pail Chili
2 pounds hamburger of your choice
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 can (15 oz) chili beans,drained
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans,drained
1 can (28 oz) diced garlic tomatoes
1 can (4 oz) mushroom bits & pieces
1 jar (12 oz) picante sauce
1 can (10.5 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup tomato juice
1 small green pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown hamburger. Drain. Put the hamburger into a large pot and add
the other ingredients. Season to taste. Cook for 3-4 hours. Serve with
condiments of your choice (i.e. sour cream, shredded cheese, oyster
crackers.)
Another recipe by Anytime Fitness: Guilt Free Chicken Chili ( ingredients serves 6)
1 can (10 oz) white chunk chicken
3 cups cooked white beans
1 can (14.5 oz) low-sodium diced tomatoes
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium red pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Cayenne pepper, to taste
6 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
6 ounces baked tortilla chips(about 65 chips)
In a large soup pot, add the chicken, beans, tomatoes, and chicken
broth. Cover and simmer over medium heat.
Meanwhile, spray a nonstick frying pan with cooking spray. Add
the onions, peppers and garlic and saute until the vegetables are soft,
3 to 5 minutes.
Add the onion and pepper mixture to the soup pot. Stir in the chili
powder, cumin, oregano and, as desired, cayenne pepper. Simmer for about
10 minutes, or until all the vegetables are soft.
Ladle into warmed bowls. Sprinkle each serving with 1 teaspoon cheese
and 1 teaspoon cilantro. Serve with baked chips on the side(about 10
chips with each serving of chili).
Options: To add more variety in flavor, color and texture, add several
different beans, including kidney, garbanzo or black beans, or
add more chopped vegetables, such as carrots and celery. If you
add these vegetables, increase the amount of chicken broth to
accommodate the added ingredients.Recipe courtesy of Mayo Clinic, a partner with Anytime Health.
This was the 18th Annual event that is always sponsored mainly by State Bank Financial. They also had a jalapeno pepper eating contest and a raffle for prizes. The weather was a crispy 40 degrees which made the chili more enjoyable. The event only lasts for 2 hours or until the chili is gone. It is a great time for the whole family to enjoy, help people in the local community, win some prizes and enjoy some great chili.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we continue to explore more events, cruise stops, and provide information.

OKTOBERFEST 2009

Houseboating Excursions stops at the largest fall festival in our area, La Crosse's Oktoberfest, in La Crosse,WI. This is an annual event that is in their 49th year. It starts out on a Friday with a small festmasters parade and the tapping of a Golden Keg of beer. Brats with sauerkraut is the traditional food of Oktoberfest. On the following Saturday there is a huge parade that lasts several hours and goes for a couple of miles. The streets on the parade route start getting lined up with chairs, tables, vehicles, and blankets as early as midnight Friday. There are floats and marching bands from all over the area. La Crosse's Oktoberfest is so big they have to split it into 2 different fest grounds, one located near the downtown area and the other is located on the northside of town. Each of the fest grounds have their own carnival rides, entertainment stage, food service, and beer tents. Oktoberfest goes for 9 days with different entertainment every night. The northside fest ground is accessible by boat from the Black River at Copeland Park. Our favorite day was Wednesday for Craft Beer Night, which has different brewmasters from the area displaying their own unique beer brands. A GREAT NIGHT!! On Thursday night there is a torch light parade, the bands and floats are all lit up with different lights and some are carrying torch lights, it is a smaller parade than the one on Saturday but interesting to see. There is always something going on for the whole family to enjoy.
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Our Cruise to Lansing,IA

Another beautiful day for a cruise down the Mississippi River and this time we made it to Lansing,Ia. Along the way just south of Brownsville,MN and before Genoa,WI we observed several large gatherings of pelicans perched on wingdams. They must be gathering to head south for the winter. There were also a large amount of seagulls also. It was a bird watchers paradise to watch some of the pelicans take flight and soar along the river's edge, land in the water, and scoop up a small fish. We locked through Lock and Dam #8 and watched a commercial barge filled with coal park to get unloaded at Genoa,WI's Dairyland Power Plant. It takes a good captain to maneuver such a large vessel with a heavy load to get perfectly aligned alongside the dock.
We arrived at Lansing,IA and pulled into the Lansing Marina which offers gas and dock slips for overnight stays, pumpouts, and some supplies. It has a long dock to park at so you can walk to town but it is about a 1/2 mile walk. Further south down the river there is a concrete levy that you can tie up to and it places you right at the edge of town. At the southern most edge of town is S&S Rentals that offers houseboat rentals, pontoons and fishing boats and they also have a full service marina with marine repair. We parked at the River's Edge Bar and Restaurant docks to have lunch and we walked to town from there. It is only a few blocks to town where you can shop at the famous Horsfalls and Lansing Variety stores that have over 1 million different kinds of items to shop for and there is also Bartels Hardware and Service that has antiques as well as hardware items. There are several restaurants to choose from to get a bite to eat. We had dinner at TJ Hunter's Pub and Grub, the food was great, also is the Safe House Saloon and Milty's Restaurant,Bar and Lodging. If you want to spend the night the Scenic Valley Motel offers boat parking, and there is the Historic Thorton House which is located a few blocks off of Main St. Lansing's festival is called Lansing Fish Days and always takes place the 2nd weekeknd in August, it features music, rides and entertainment for everyone.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we take you to another cruise destination and provide more information.

99 Steps to the Beer

It started out as a cruise to Lansing,IA but an unexpected turn of events took place and we ended up at a new stop called "The Top of the Rock". We borrowed a friend's pontoon boat for the day and we were cruising along coming up on the Lock and Dam #9 which is by Genoa,WI and we ran out of gas. The gauge still read full so apparently it doesn't work. We paddled our way to shore and luckily we were only an 1/8 of a mile from the nearest gas station. We bought a gas can and filled the tank several times until full and then restarted our cruise when we noticed a commercial barge locking through the dam and this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. So we decided to had back home and when we got to Brownsville,MN we noticed a small dock with a boat and decided to investigate and noticed steps going straight up from the river. We made the journey up 99 steps to the street where we found a bar and grill called "The Top of the Rock". It is a very nice place and the food was good and the beer is cold. The bar has spectacular views of the Mississippi River Valley, they also have outdoor seating and a different featured DJ every night.
Brownsville,MN is also home to a place called "Wildcat Park" which offers camping of all types, and has a long sandbar for many boats to park and enjoy the activities.
A little north of Brownsville,MN on the east side of the Mississippi River is one of the largest sandbars in the area that everyone calls Crater Island. On a beautiful weekend day you will see up to as many as 50 boats parked at the sandbar in a small bay area. This is a popular spot for many large houseboats because the water is deep enough and the sandbar is large enough to set up camp for the whole family to enjoy. Another popular sandbar is a little more north and on the west side of the Mississippi River everyone calls Coney Island. This sandbar is popular for houseboats too because the water is deep enough and it is a great spot for boaters who like to come and set up tents and campout. The top of the sandbar is fairly level making it an ideal spot. There are many other sandbars in the area but require a little more caution when approaching.
Come follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise to another Mississippi River Cruise Stop and provide more information.

GRUMPY OLD MEN; Wabasha,MN

Remember the movie "Grumpy Old Men" and the sequel "Grumpier Old Men". Wabasha,MN is the featured city in the movie based on a story by a young man that had a grandfather that lived there and thought it was the perfect setting. Wabasha,MN is the oldest city on the Upper Mississippi River Valley. We cruised into Wabasha and found the Wabasha Marina. We then went under the Interstate Bridge and found the famous restaurant called Slippery's, which offers free boat docking and wonderful outdoor dining. We then went up the river further and into a small bay where the Mississippi Parkside Marina is located. We also discovered you can rent a houseboat from Great River Houseboats which has boats for anyone with or without any boating experience to drive. There are several parks on the Mississippi River that offer camping and nice beaches.
We decided to park at the Wabasha Marina and walk to see some of their historic buildings and shops. We came upon a hotel and restaurant called, The Historic Anderson House, it is the oldest operating hotel in the state of Minnesota. Out in front of the hotel they were offering Carriage Rides for about $10.00 a person and you called the American Inn at 651-565-5366 for reservations. We continued into downtown and found places like, Jewels on the River, The Old Triangle Pub, the Vinifera Restaurant, the Wabasha Treasure Chest, and the National Eagle Center.
Wabasha is a beautiful city to visit with plenty to offer the whole family from their own unique bowling alley, Riverboat Lanes, to a quiet night under the bridge in the Heritage Park for a free concert put on by the River Junctions Arts Council.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we take you to another Mississippi River Cruise stop and provide more information.

Cruise to Red Wing,MN

Our northern most cruise stop is Red Wing,MN. It is a beautiful journey up the Mississippi River from our home town of La Crosse,WI, the views of the bluffs and the wildlife, such as Eagle Watching, are spectacular and there are so many fun places to stop and see. When we arrived in Red Wing,MN we parked at one of two marinas located in town. We stayed at the Red Wing Marina which is the closest to downtown so we could walk and check out all the local shops and restaurants. The other marina called Ole Miss Marina is the largest marina in Red Wing and is located a little north of town.
From the Red Wing Marina we were able to walk to the Visitor's Center and get some information on things to see. At the Center, for those that don't want to do a lot of walking you can get tickets for a Trolley that will take you to many different stops such as the famous Red Wing Pottery, Sheldon Theatre, Barn Bluff, Bay Pointe Park, the St. James Hotel, and the Goodhue County History Museum. The city is full of beauty and rich history with so much to see you want to stay a couple of days to take it all in.
Across the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side is the Harbor Restaurant, Bar, and Marina. They feature summer festivals along with their own bikini contest, a DJ, and live entertainment regularly.
If gambling is of interest to you, further north up the river is Treasure Island Casino and Marina.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we provide information and cruise to more stops from as far north as Red Wing,MN to as far south as Prairie Du Chein,WI.